The free grough route service will help you plan your walk. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Grough is today launching a special, free Covid version of its online mapping and route planning system grough route.

We hope this will help you plan your daily exercise outing, whether that’s a walk, a run or cycle.

Anyone signing up for the new service will be limited to an area within eight miles of their postcode, to comply with government guidance to stay local when exercising.

Grough route offers Ordnance Survey mapping at 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 and already has more than 5,500 shared routes available, created by existing subscribers.

New subscribers to the free Covid version can also create their own local routes on their computer, then print out the map marked with the route to take with them. These will, by default, be private routes only available to the person who created them, so as not to encourage too many people to converge on the same paths and bridleways.

Grough route enables route planning using Ordnance Survey mapping

Grough route normally costs £5 to subscribe for 30 days, or £19.50 for a year’s subscription, but the new Covid version is completely free to use. Existing subscribers and those renewing will still have access to the full system, including mapping of the whole of Great Britain.

Grough’s editorial director Bob Smith said: “Like most outdoors enthusiasts, I love exploring the hills and countryside of Britain, but during the Covid-19 lockdown, I’ve restricted myself to walks and rides from my front door.

“As the restrictions continue, we thought it would be good to offer our grough route system to a wider public so they can plan their exercise outings close to home, and stay within the official guidance.

“As the lockdown continues, I’ve started to look for alternative rights of way to use on my daily walks, and explore the area around my home. I’m sure there are lots of people who will enjoy doing the same.”

The grough route system enables users to create routes on the OS mapping by clicking on the online maps. Walking speeds and Naismith’s Rule can be modified to suit the user, and the route and map then printed on an A4 sheet to take with you.

You’ll need a desktop or laptop computer to create the routes. The mapping isn’t downloadable. The normal online support for full subscribers isn’t available for the free version, but there is an online manual.

To subscribe to the free Covid version of the system, click on the grough route website or the logo below.

grough route

The free grough route service will be reviewed in the light of evolving official restrictions.